A Closer Look at the Restaurant Closure That Rocked Deanwood

August 3, 2026

The Smokehouse at The Strand, Deanwood's only sit-down restaurant, abruptly closed in July following a rent dispute between restaurateur Gregory Casten and the building's ownership partnership. The closure left dozens of neighborhood employees jobless and eliminated a critical community gathering space that had served the area for nearly two years. The conflict centers on disagreements over unpaid rent amounts—landlords claim over $220,000 while Casten acknowledges roughly $75,000—stemming from disputes about lease terms and construction responsibilities.

Who is affected

Dozens of Smokehouse at The Strand employees, approximately 60% of whom were Deanwood residents, including hosts, waiters, servers, bartenders, and line cooks
Marctre Freeman, former general manager of The Strand DC
Gregory Casten and Dave Pera of Fish & Fire Food Group
Deanwood community members who patronized the restaurant
Specific employees including Shawn Little (waiter/bartender), Robin Beverly (host and disability benefits recipient), and Chris Charles (bartender and graduate student)
The NHP Foundation, The Warrenton Group, and Washington Metropolitan Community Development Corporation (joint venture building owners)
D.C. Councilmember Wendell Felder (Ward 7)
Scott L. Barkan, senior vice president of The NHP Foundation
Residents of The Strand Residence apartment building

What action is being taken

Marctre Freeman is helping former employees find employment elsewhere
Freeman is distributing checks to staff members
The joint venture partners and Casten are involved in ongoing court proceedings with monthly status updates requested by a judge
D.C. Councilmember Wendell Felder is working with DMPED and Washington DC Economic Partnership to secure another tenant for the space

Why it matters

This closure represents a significant setback for food access and community development in Deanwood, an underserved Ward 7 neighborhood. The restaurant was the area's first sit-down dining establishment in years, providing residents with a proximate alternative to traveling downtown or to Maryland for similar experiences. Beyond food access, The Strand DC served as a safe community gathering space for events including Sunday brunches, boxing matches, and forums with elected officials. The loss also highlights systemic challenges facing small businesses in underserved areas, including the difficulties of operating restaurants in neighborhoods with less economic support, the complexities of public-private development partnerships, and the hidden economic costs residents face when lacking local amenities. The closure eliminates employment opportunities for local residents and removes money circulation within the community that needs it most.

What's next

Councilmember Felder plans to work with DMPED and Washington DC Economic Partnership to secure another tenant for the space
Felder intends to leverage his role as chair of the D.C. Council's Subcommittee on Local Business Development to address how the city structures deals for startup businesses, advocating for agreements that allow time for businesses to grow their clientele
DMPED stated they "support maintaining a restaurant at this location" and "hope the parties can reach a sustainable resolution that keeps the space active and serving the community"
According to Scott L. Barkan, the joint venture partners are "still hoping that we can negotiate a way to keep him [Casten] in the neighborhood" and have "made several offers"

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer